Take note of these wedding day 'hacks'

Unless you live under a rock or you've denounced social media (in which case, please give me tips on how you do it because I, for one, spend way too much time "connected"), you've seen the articles floating around on "life hacks." If you don't know what I'm talking about, "life hacks" are little tips and tricks that you most likely didn't think of that make daily tasks easier. For example, to get the perfect cake-to-icing ratio when eating a cupcake, simply cut off the bottom of the cupcake and put it on top to make a sandwich. And who knew that soda can tabs make the perfect closet organizers?

Your wedding day could certainly use some "hacks" of its own, considering how stressful the day is to begin with. Here is a list of some wedding hacks that are sure to make life a little easier and more enjoyable on the big day.

Use a wire hangar to get rid of static electricity. Nothing is more annoying than trying to take wedding pictures when your charmeuse or chiffon dress is clinging (in what always seems to be the most obscene manners) to your legs. Instead of the old-fashioned "hairspray" tricks, which will leave you sticky and gross, simply run the long side of a metal hanger over your clothes and body where the cling is apparent. My best educated guess is something about the conductivity of metal neutralizing the static electricity, but truth be told I have no idea why this trick works.

Pack a cooler with snacks and non-alcoholic beverages in your limousine. If your ceremony and reception are in separate places, and especially if you have a few hours between the two, you're going to get hungry and thirsty. Pack yourself (and your bridal party) an array of goodies in a cooler to help you stay hydrated and caloried-up. You don't want to be stuck drinking booze when you're dehydrated and on an empty stomach. You'll end up sick and wickedly drunk. I found that water, peanut butter crackers and ham and cheese sandwiches work best. DO NOT put condiments on sandwiches and be sparing with the peanut butter. You don't want to deal with spills and stains.

Find an oversized button-down shirt to wear for hair and make-up. I can't tell you how many brides I know who planned to wear just their undergarments and their super cute bridal robe to get ready, only to remember last minute that their hair and make-up appointment isn't at home. Unless you're lucky enough to be related to the hair stylist and they shut down the whole salon to accommodate your bridal party, you'll need to wear actual clothes, and that form-fitting bride tank top isn't going to cut it when you've got a big, beautiful updo. Make sure you wear a button down shirt. Go ahead and put the robe over top of it, or be wild and bedazzle the button down.

Rub dryer sheets on deodorant stains. This is another one of those "I have no idea why it works" tips, but it never fails. Keep a stash of dryer sheets in someone's purse and use them to remove deodorant stains from tuxes and bridesmaid dresses. Make sure you bring the dryer sheets for the day to use if anyone needs to reapply deodorant after the ceremony.

Scuff up the bottom of your shoes with sand paper or a sharp knife. You probably already know to wear your shoes around the house for an hour or two every day the two weeks before your wedding to make sure they are broken in and your feet are used to them. But you may not know that you can avoid a dance floor disaster simply by rubbing sandpaper on the bottom of your shoes. The sandpaper creates a texture in the rubber, which will make the shoes less slippery. If you don't have sandpaper, using a knife to score the bottom of your shoes in a criss-cross diamond pattern will work in a pinch.

Turn off social media and email notifications to your phone. You probably won't be able to leave your cell phone at home for the day. Even if you aren't the one using it, inevitably someone will need a phone number out of your phone. But even on silent and/or vibrate, social media and your email account is guaranteed to be inundated on your wedding day and will likely flood that mini-computer-lifeline. Just for the day, its probably best to disallow notifications to be sent to your mobile device.

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.